Govt floats tender to upgrade Azadpur, Najafgarh bus depots

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 15

As a part of its plans to modernise the capital’s transport, the Delhi government has floated a tender to upgrade bus terminals in Azadpur and Najafgarh integrating them facilities, like crèche/ play area, e-Kiosk for bill payment and mohalla clinics.

The Transport Department has already floated the tender for modernisation of Nehru Place Bus Terminal last month. Designs for five more new terminals — for Narela, Dwarka Sector 4, Dwarka Sector 12, Vikaspuri and Central Secretariat — have been finalised. The tenders are expected to be released in February and the terminals will be ready for use within nine months.

The move is aimed at offering a world-class transit experience to commuters in the national capital.

Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said, “In the current phase, eight bus terminals are being developed as modern world-class terminals in Delhi. We are envisioning these terminals to become lively urban spaces, where passengers can conveniently access multiple transport modes such as buses, auto-rickhshaws e-rickshaws etc as well as amenities such as food courts, ATMs etc. Ultimately, we want to democratise public transport and end the disparity of transit experience between Metro commuters and bus commuters.”

As per the government, present bus terminals suffer from “many deficiencies” such as traffic disorder at the terminal entry and exit points, inaccessibility for para-transit services, informal shops and kiosks lined up along the boundary walls adding to the traffic congestion.

While hoping to recreate these transport hubs into civic centres, the government said the Delhi Transport Corporation will be able to garner revenue from outdoors signage and digital media integrated into the architecture of the public amenities on site.